About PhD Philosophy 

PhD Philosophy or Doctor of Philosophy in Philosophy is a 3-year to 6-year course aimed to equip students with research skills and specialist knowledge in Philosophy.

The minimum eligibility to pursue PhD Philosophy is to have a Master’s Degree. in Philosophy or Literature study or anM.Phil Degree.

Students can gain admission to PhD Philosophy in India on the basis of entrance exams such as CSIR UGC NET, UGC-NET, JNUEE, etc.

Some of the top colleges offering admission to the program are IIT Kanpur, Jadavpur University, Chandigarh University, IIT BHU, Jawaharlal Nehru University, IIT Gandhinagar, etc

The average annual tuition fee for the PhD Philosophy courses ranges from INR 50,000 to INR 5 LPA in India.

Major PhD Philosophy subjects are like development and research of several theses such as Indian Philosophical studies, Western Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, etc. It focuses on the development and research of a thesis such as Indian Philosophical studies, Western Philosophy, Modern Philosophy, etc. and ensuring the safe, well-resourced project completion and thesis development from research. The PhD Philosophy course expands the career possibilities of candidates seeking work in the fields of Research, Education, Literature, Civil service, Politics Communications, HR, and Advertising, etc.

Qualified candidates can start their careers with jobs like Assistant Professor, Head of the educational department, Philosophical/ Literature Researcher, etc.

PhD Philosophy What is it About?

Read below points to know what PhD Philosophy is all about-

The PhD Philosophy degree is one of the highest-level degrees that includes philosophical orientations to conduct in-depth research for constructing conceptualism and scale development processes.

The program can be pursued only full-time by the candidates as a Ph.D. degree from a distance will not be recognized.

The minimum duration of this course is 3 years and the maximum is 6 years for students seeking jobs in this sector.

Ph.D. in philosophy is an advanced step that prepares students for becoming teachers of philosophies and various other independent ventures.

The major skills required to pursue a PhD Philosophy are good research conducting skills, Good verbal and written communication skills, analytical skills, etc

The course will provide knowledge about typical research development, statistics, data analysis, problem-solving, etc.

The course also includes time-to-time evaluation and practice including readings for the course which are the primary part of the course.

Why study PhD Philosophy?

Following are some of the benefits of pursuing a PhD Philosophy:

Top Skills Acquired: Skills such as verbal and written communication, conducting in-depth research, problem-solving, clear and disciplined thinking and analysis, formulation of the problem, data collection, processing, and analysis are some core learning that a student will inculcate while pursuing the course

Vast Job Opportunities: A career in this field is one of the top career choices made by students in India. The course provides vast career scope in both public and private sectors in profiles such as Senior Research and Development Manager, Assistant Professor, Head of the educational department, Philosophical/ Literature Researcher, Political Advisor, etc.

Top Industries: Students with a PhD Philosophy get some of the popular industries to work in such as research, education, literature, law, banking, the civil service, business and science, analysis, PR, or politics. Communications, publishing, HR, and advertising, etc.

In-Depth Knowledge: Students will get trained in conducting research-based studies and advanced theosophical studies in the field of Philosophy. They will gain knowledge about its applications which will provide them a more detailed insight into research-oriented thesis development and also an in-depth study of the specialization fields of philosophy and their applications in day-to-day lives.

Lucrative Salary: A PhD Philosophy graduate is entitled to receive a higher amount of salary owing to the knowledge one acquires while studying research. They are entitled to receive an average starting salary of 10 - 20 LPA which increases with seniority and experience on the field.

Eligibility Criteria of PhD Philosophy 

The following are the eligibility criteria for the PhD Philosophy course-

Candidates seeking admission in PhD Philosophy course must have a Master’s Degree in Arts, Philosophy or Literature such as M.A. (Philosophy) or M.Phil Degree from a recognized university.

A minimum of 50% aggregate or equivalent CGPA is required for admission in the course.

Students need to clear entrances followed by a personal interview for admission.

PhD Philosophy Entrance Exams

Some of the PhD Philosophy entrance tests are:

CSIR UGC NET: This is a national-level Junior Research Fellowship and Lectureship test, conducted by NTA for Ph.D. admission to various Institutes.

UGC NET: This is a Junior Research Fellowship and Assistant Professorship test which will be conducted after July for Ph.D. Courses admission.

JNUEE: JNUEE is conducted by the Jawaharlal Nehru University in order to shortlist students for various postgraduate degree programs.

How does one prepare for the PhD Philosophy entrance exams?

PhD Philosophy entrance exams are one of the most comprehensive exams, therefore following tips should be considered for better performance:

PhD Philosophy entrance exams are the most comprehensive competitive exams for research opportunities. Candidates should analyze the time and days that they require for thorough preparation.

Science and mathematical concepts should be studied well. Questions will be asked about Quantitative ability, General Ability, Engineering, Statistics, etc. Candidates should manage their time according to each subject and topic.

Candidates should solve sample question papers and take several mock tests and model tests to know the exam pattern. This way, candidates have an idea about the exam pattern which will save a lot of time during the exam.

Candidates should learn to effectively manage their time to answer 65 questions in about three hours, which will carry 100 marks in total. Candidates should have hands-on practice of shortcuts for mathematical questions which will save time for revision.

Since it is a research-based subject candidates must subscribe to weekly journals to keep themselves updated about that particular field.

Syllabus of PhD Philosophy

Paper I (Research)

• Introduction to Research Methodology
• Literature Survey
• Data Collection and Organization
• Principles of Thesis Preparation
• Research tools and studies

Paper II (Optional)

• Theory of knowledge
• Advanced course in philosophy of science
• Advanced course in logic
• Advanced course in formal methods
• Philosophy of statistics
• Philosophy of the computer and information science
• Decision theory
• Philosophy of mathematics
• Value theory
• Philosophy of language
• Philosophical aesthetics
• Art Technology
• Critical Reading in Philosophical Texts
• Political philosophy
• Environmental Philosophy
• Philosophy of language
• Philosophy of Social Sciences

Paper III Elective (Indian Philosophical Studies)

• Nagarjuna- Mulamadhyamikakarika
• Sankara’s Commentary on first Four Sutra
• Ishvara Krishna- Samkhya karika
• Carvaka- Lokayata,
• Jaina- Pancastikayasara
• Early Buddhism
• The Nyaya Theory of Knowledge
• Vaisesika Sutra
• The First and Last Freedom
• Reason and Tradition in Indian Thought
• New Perspectives in Indian Philosophy Chapters

Paper IV Elective (Western Philosophical Studies)

• Kant- Critique of Pure Reason,
• Plato
• Wittgenstein- Philosophical Investigations
• A Treatise of Human Nature Book
• Logical Atomism
• Some Main Problems of Philosophy
• How To Do Things With Words
• Concept of Mind
• ‘Freedom and Resentment’ and Other Essays
• Being and Nothingness
• Being and Time

Paper V (Mandatory)

• Thesis presentation
• Comprehensive Viva Voce

Admission Process of PhD Philosophy 

The admission process for PhD Philosophy in India is offered on the basis of national-level entrance exams such as CSIR UGC NET, UGC-NET, or college-level entrance exams such as, JNU Entrance Exam, etc.

The selection process is then followed by the counseling procedure or personal interview round by the respective college on the basis of which final seat allotment is done.

Following are the steps to keep in mind while applying for PhD Philosophy Admission:

Step 1: Visit the official website of the college and register by filling the online application. Provide the required details like name, mobile number, email ID, etc.

Step 2: Log in using the unique Login ID that is generated. Candidates will have to provide required details such as personal and academic like Gender, Address Subject, Marks, etc.

Step 3: Upload the required scanned copies of the documents like mark sheets, certificates, photographs, signatures, etc in the required size and format as mentioned by the college.

Step 4: Apply for the entrance exam.

Step 5: Candidates have to pay the application fee online or as mentioned by the college. Once the payment of the application fee is successful, the confirmation will be sent to the candidates through the mail.

Step 6: Candidates should download and save the application form to get the admit cards for the entrance exam in the future.

Step 7: Appear for the entrance exam.

Step 8: After successfully giving the exam, a list of qualified candidates will be issued.

Step 9: Qualified candidates will then have to appear for personal interview rounds to enroll themselves in the university.

PhD Philosophy Jobs Prospects and Career Options

PhD Philosophy graduates have vast career options and higher-paying jobs owing to the knowledge and experience they have acquired over the years of study.

After successful completion of the PhD Philosophy course, graduates can seek employment in various industries like research, Education, Literature, Law, Civil Service, Science Analytics, and Politics. Communications, Publishing, etc.

Research Scientist and Philosophy professors are the most popular PhD Philosophy job profiles pursued by graduates. The job prospects are open in both the private and public sectors for the graduate of PhD Philosophy.

Some of the top recruiters are IIT Patna, Mathworks, Archaeological Survey of India, Nalanda University, Election Commission of India, FLAME University, CNN, BBC, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, etc. These top companies hire such professionals offering them an average salary of INR 10-20 LPA

• Assistant Professor
• Literature Researcher
• Human Service Worker
• Novelist/Writer
• Journalist/Editor
• Critic

Future Scope of PhD Philosophy 

The PhD Philosophy course is respected globally as it is one of the highest forms of study. Post obtaining a degree in the course, candidates have higher job scope and vast job opportunities.

On completion of the PhD Philosophy program, candidates can opt for a wide range of professions such as:

With the PhD Philosophy degree, students will be able to make their careers in the field of Research, Professor, Literature, Analyst, etc. The scope in this field is continuously increasing at a fast pace and will continue to accelerate in the future also.

There are a large number of domains both in the private as well as in public sector where a PhD Philosophy Philosophy graduate can work.

PhD Philosophy holders are also invited by foreign universities to conduct research and seminars.

These professionals can also have their own online portal to share wide philosophical content as well as can offer various philosophical sessions on interesting topics.